Marico boss & Kunal Bahl join mental health awareness brigade, urge people to speak up

NEW DELHI: The present, uncertain times can trigger feelings of loneliness, extreme stress and depression. In these unusual circumstances, India Inc bosses feel it is vital to speak up about mental health problems as staying indoors becomes the new normal in the wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

On Sunday, Marico Chairman Harsh Mariwala urged his 878K followers on Twitter to prioritise themselves and their mental health. He requested people to identify the symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress, and talk to someone.



He further said that the Mariwala Health Initiative, a funding agency founded in 2015, works on making mental health accessible to a marginalised community. "It has reached out to more than 1.4 lakh people in India," he added.

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The 69-year-old business tycoon said that one of the foundation's projects is the iCALL Helpline, a helpline by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences in Mumbai.


In another post, Mariwala said the psychological helpline provides high-quality telephone counselling and Internet-based support services if people wish to speak to someone anonymously.


During the weekend, Snapdeal co-founder Kunal Bahl also joined the social change brigade to spread awareness about the importance of mental health.

Looking at the current Covid-19 crisis that has impacted many start-ups and new businesses, the 36-year-old emphasised that new-age entrepreneurs must have someone to talk to or reach out.

As many businesses go through stress, Bahl urged his 255K followers to avoid interacting with people who increase their worries. Calling stress a plague, he reiterated that one should spend time with positive people and do things that bring him/her joy and relief.

He mentioned that family, health and freedom are most important aspects of life.


Dr Sandeep Vohra, Senior Consultant Psychiatrist at Apollo Hospital and BLK Hospital, took to the micro-blogging site to share five effective tips for those dealing with mental heath problems.

His simple steps to being mentally fit are as follows:

1. A sleep pattern ensuring 6-8 hours of snooze time.
2. Share your problems with people close to you or a counsellor.
3. Take up physical activities that keep you mentally occupied.
4. Limit social media usage and screen time.
5. Don't hesitate in seeking professional help.


Dr Vohra, who has been practising as a psychiatrist for more than 25 years, asked people to share these tips with their loved ones.